Leyla’s Latest News
by Leyla Najma · 11 Comments
Weight Loss VS A Performing Art:
For the past year I have been noticing a lot of women are writing in because they want to lose weight. I know belly dancing is a fun way to exercise but the serious dancer in me doesn’t see the connection from learning a cultural dance to losing weight. Obviously any type of cardio is a great way to get into shape but there is a bit of a difference here. As a professional dancer I see belly dance as an expression of individual divine creativity. It’s the self expression of the soul that is my connection to belly dance. But I had to sit back and chew on my feelings for awhile and that is why I decided to do the Belly Stretch-Thrust and Roll exercise class. Another reason is that now that I am in pre-menopause I have found that I have to exercise more to keep the weight off. So this week I am creating a fast paced regimen for everyone that should be a lot of fun!
Jibber Jam
I am in the process of working on a drum solo choreography for dancers and students called Jibber Jam. The drum solo music was a Christmas gift from Daniel 4 years ago composed by Issa Malluf. I am trying to make it something that is easy enough for dancers to follow who aren’t comfortable creating their own choreographies yet. I know that everyone loves drum solos so I thought I would make it first on my “to do” list of new videos. I must say as a spontaneous choreographer this is quite the task for me because as I have been listening to the music my mind wonders and I find I am literally “jamming” to the music.
Book is Almost Done!
I haven’t written much about my book only because it has been a long and thought provoking journey. But I am excited to say that I have only 4 chapters to go and I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. But I have to say I haven’t been totally in the dark, I have been flying around with past memories, people and a few giggles. So I’m hoping to get it finished within a couple months and when I do, it will be party time!
Latest Article for Chronicles
I have been writing for Chronicles belly dance magazine for over 3 years now and wrote an article that I’m hoping you all check out in the next issue which will be Oct/Now/Dec. It’s a short article on my view of being a belly dancer and the “Flower of Life” imprint of the Goddess. I think you will all like it and maybe if I get enough interest I might post it here so you all can get a peek at it first before it comes out.
Ciao for now,
Leyla
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About Leyla Najma
I can’t wait to read the book to see what you’re written about me.
If I wrote about you, it would be a whole other book!!!
Maybe you should be my next book!!
Nah, you could write it in a couple of paragarphs.
I think you are trying to misslead everyone into thinking that you are a breeze to live with………no more then me baby!!
Regarding belly dance for weight loss, I’m of two minds about it.
On the one hand, I don’t think that’s a productive frame of mind to bring to class. One weekly class isn’t going to give quick results, so if weight loss is their only goal, they’ll likely be disappointed. Plus, if they focus too much on weight loss, they may miss out on all the other things that the dance has to offer (fun, expression, friendship, actually learning how to dance, etc.)
On the other hand, belly dance can do a lot of good for a woman who is struggling with her weight and body image.
A lot of people can’t do more strenuous exercise, or dislike it so much that they avoid it. Since belly dance is more fun, less intimidating, and (for some people) safer than regular exercise, some people who wouldn’t get any exercise can at least get moving.
Maybe more importantly, it helps a lot of students make peace with their bodies. Once you’ve seen how great your shimmy looks with reverb, you stop feeling like any scrap of belly fat is hideous. And once you connect with your body and learn to move with grace, it’s easier to accept that you’re beautiful as you are, so your weight seems a lot less important.
Nadira, I agree whole heartedly with you!
It’s a tough call because I learned belly dance for the art of the dance form not for losing weight but you should see the women writing in that want to learn belly dancing to lose weight. And there are belly dance teachers who are advertising that belly dancing is a good way to lose weight. So I have decided to do a class for cardio and get the benefits from it myself, do it maybe twice a week and make it a fast paced classs where we can sweat our booties off literally!!
With some of the women who write, they want to learn a dance that has been a dream for them to learn for years but they see it as a way to lose weight too. So I will be offering regular dance classes on other days of the week so maybe they can get the exercise they want and then on other days get in the fundamentals of belly dance and see why she is a cultural master piece!!
Weight loss aside, a fast-paced class makes a good compliment to a weekly class. It’s important to be able to stop and slow down when you’re learning a skill, but dancers also need conditioning. The first time I did a full-length set, I almost passed out!
The first time I went to a workshop, I believe it was Horatios workshop, it was a 3 or 4 day event and I thought I was going to die!! But he taught me if I wanted it then training, drilling and practicing was a main part of my future. I have forgotten that these last few years what it felt like to be immersed by it, drining it all in! Conversation like this remind me, so thank you, Nadira!!
In my peak time I used practice my choreographies for at least one hour every day. It was highly paced dance training session with short breaks to wipe my sweat off and to drink some water.
I became slimmer after adding a low carb diet. The weight reduction was fast at the beginning: about 2,5 kgs in three weeks, then it became slower as the last few kilogrammes can be very stubborn to remove.
I need a strong motivation to get moving. Motivation is a think “just” in our minds, while it seems to be harder than ever to stay motivated after certain age and experience. I am waiting eagerly to take your classes again, Leyla.
Sorry for the misspelling! It should be: motivation is a thing in our mind…
My point is that it is need to eat healthy food, and stay away from sugar, carbs, and too much fat to loose weight in shorter period of time.
Leyla and Nadira,
I completly agree with both of you! Weight loss vs performing….there are so many women who are looking for bellydance to use as a form of exercise because they have heard how wonderful it is for our bodies. When I started dancing I did teach bellydance aerobics filled with bellydance moves and other more common aerobic moves a couple of the girls from our troupe at the time did tie my class in with regular classes. I had their blood pumping so it was a nice addition for those who were in dance for the art form and could have another class that was based on some of the moves but was geared for getting in shape and increasing staminia. I can remember when I went to Suhaila Salimpour workshop in Michigan for 3 days and Wow!! Is all I can say!!! I too Leyla thought that I was going to die!!
Here where I live in Ohio I have had a few girls who wanted more out of my dance classes and have left because they wanted more of a workout and I have heard they are taking Zumba classes now. So I guess having two different options would be a good thing to have and give students.
I also see the dance as an art form and a way to express ourselves and to be a part of something very cool and bonding with so many women of different backgrounds. It is a wonderful experience but I think we need to realize that they do not care about the history and so forth they want to get in shape and have fun doing it. So it would be a good way to get students that would not normally sign up for a bellydance class.
Plus, I am looking forward to it too because I have noticed that as you get older it is harder to keep the weight off! Plus I wont be beet red after doing a 20 minute dance performance!